Social impacts

UPS made $7.5 million in humanitarian relief funding, technical support and in-kind services in 2013.

250 humanitarian shipments across 46 countries were made in 2013 and 16 weeks of humanitarian service given by UPS employees.

In partnership with Aidmatrix, UPS introduced the supply chain management platform (SCM4) to improve efficiency in transportation and distribution systems, a system which is now used by other relief agencies.

Business impacts

Using its technology and people to help communities and businesses recover after disasters helps position UPS as a thought leader in improving response systems and resiliency, and in turn improves UPS’s corporate brand.

UPS employees who volunteer as first responders utilise and improve their leadership skills and cultivate a strong sense of pride in UPS when they are deployed to disaster areas.

The UPS Humanitarian Relief Programme enhances the company's reputation, and increases brand awareness amongst external stakeholders and develops its knowledge of new and existing markets.

“
Our commitment to education and training programmes, coupled with our strong expertise in logistics, demonstrates the value we place on equipping individuals and businesses with the skills, information and resources to ensure communities are prepared for the unexpected.
”

- Eduardo Martinez,president of The UPS Foundation.

UPS’ Humanitarian Relief Programme has addressed many different international disasters over the years, from the floods in Pakistan, Thailand and the Philippines to the famine crisis in the Horn of Africa, to earthquakes in China and Haiti and tsunamis in the Indian Ocean and Japan.

By setting up pre-approved funds at the start of the calendar year, UPS is able to activate them quickly in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. Using their Logistics Emergency Teams (LET) first responder programme, UPS also activates the highly skilled logistic professionals based all over the world. UPS uses its global network of countries and territories to mobilise their employees local to the communities stricken by small-scale disasters.

In 2012/13, UPS responded to Typhoon Haiyan, provided ongoing support for the Syrian refugee crisis and aided long-term recovery efforts for communities affected by Hurricane Sandy.

As a leader in global logistics services, UPS is in the unique position to extend its expertise, transportation assets and global network to assist UN agencies and NGOs across preparedness, relief response and post crisis recovery. UPS has had a long-standing commitment to pre, during and post disaster relief because of its deep roots in communities.

Its Humanitarian Relief Programme is focused on aiding communities in crisis, strengthening partnerships with leading humanitarian relief organisations, helping to build their capacity and increasing collaboration amongst government agencies, non-profit organisations and private sector businesses to create more resilient communities around the world.

“Each year, millions of people are impacted by disasters all over the world. We believe that we can help reduce the human suffering that follows such tragic events through our Humanitarian Relief Programme by collaborating with our partners and helping communities better prepare for unexpected and unplanned events, which is core to our mission. Our commitment to education and training programmes, coupled with our strong expertise in logistics, demonstrates the value we place on equipping individuals and businesses with the skills, information and resources to ensure communities are prepared for the unexpected.”

Eduardo Martinez, president of The UPS Foundation.

Judge's comment:

"The UPS programme is really inspiring – a first class example of how business expertise and resource can be utilised pre, during and post disaster with maximum effect and impact."